Your essential pregnancy to-do list: first trimester

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The first weeks and months of pregnancy are exciting, and exhausting! Our to-do list will help you to get your pregnancy off to a great start. You can tick off each item on the list, or just use it as a guide. Do whatever feels right for you.

1. Arrange your first appointment with your midwife

Once you have told your GP or midwifery clinic that you are pregnant, you will need to book your first appointment with a midwife.

The timing of your first official antenatal appointment, called your booking appointment, depends on where you live. You should have your booking appointment by the time you are between 10 weeks and 12 weeks pregnant.

Your booking appointment may last up to two hours. During the appointment, your midwife will:

If you need help to give up, talk to your midwife or doctor. They'll be able to put you in touch with your local stop-smoking support scheme. You can also call the free and confidential NHS Pregnancy smoking helpline on 0800 169 9169.

5. Cut down on alcohol, or cut it out

We don't know for sure how much alcohol is safe for you and your baby. That's why many experts advise you to cut out alcohol completely during pregnancy, or at least for the first three months.

If you do decide to drink alcohol while you are pregnant, it's best to stick to light drinking. That's no more than one or two units of alcohol, no more than once or twice a week.

6. Cut down on caffeine

You can still enjoy a cup of coffee during your pregnancy. But you should limit yourself to 200mg of caffeine a day, which is two cups of instant coffee or one cup of brewed coffee.

If you regularly have more than 200mg of caffeine a day during your pregnancy, it could increase your risk of miscarriage.

This 200mg limit includes all sources of caffeine, so as well as coffee you'll need to count teas (including green tea), cola, energy drinks and chocolate.

7. Learn what to eat and what not to eat

A healthy, balanced diet will make sure that you get all the nutrients you and your developing baby need. Check out our having-a-baby diet and get yourself into good eating habits at this stage in your pregnancy.

Bear in mind that you don't need extra calories in your first trimester. You'll need to avoid certain foods in pregnancy, because they might contain bacteria, parasites or toxins that could harm your baby. This includes some cheeses and unpasteurised dairy products, raw or undercooked eggs, liver and pate, and raw shellfish.

8. Get relief from pregnancy sickness

Most mums-to-be suffer from sickness during their first trimester. To ease your nausea, eat little and often. Try to work out which foods suit you and which make you feel more queasy.

If you have cramps with bleeding, seek medical help immediately. Your GP, midwife, or your hospital's early pregnancy assessment unit (EPAU) are there to help you.

10. Get as much rest as you can

It is common to feel tired or even exhausted during the first trimester. This is because your body is getting used to rapidly changing hormone levels. Get as much rest as you can, although this can be hard if you're working.

Try to get to bed early at least one night a week. Even if you can't sleep until much later, relaxing with a book or soft music will help you to unwind. Turn off your phone and forget about work. Once your baby arrives, sleep will be so precious. So enjoy it while you can.

11. Get ready to see your baby

During your dating scan, the sonographer will put gel on your tummy and move a hand-held device, called a transducer, over your skin. You'll then be able to see your baby. The sonographer will check your baby's heartbeat and tell you when your baby is due.

12. Decide when to announce your pregnancy

Some women spill the beans to friends, family, and colleagues right away. Others wait until they're in their second trimester. By your second trimester, your bump becomes more obvious and the risk of miscarriage falls dramatically.

14. Do chores safely

Be cautious when using household chemicals and cleaning products. Wear gloves and avoid direct contact with products that have strong fumes and strong warning labels. When you're cleaning, keep your windows open and try not to use products in aerosol cans.

Think about whether being pregnant will affect your job, especially if you work with x-rays or chemicals, or have a strenuous job.

By starting now you will get into good habits for the remainder of your pregnancy.

16. Book your antenatal classes

Try to book your antenatal classes early. Some courses get booked up very quickly because they are in high demand. Antenatal course provision can vary from area to area. It's worth finding out early in your pregnancy what is available and how soon you need to book.

18. Buy a maternity bra

As your breasts fill out, you'll find a good maternity bra keeps you comfortable and well-supported in the coming months.

19. Have sex if you're in the mood

In your first trimester, you may feel too tired, sick or stressed to have sex. But if you've not had any complications, there's no reason why you and your partner can't enjoy sex throughout your pregnancy.

20. Have a massage

If you're suffering from pregnancy headaches or backache, or just need help relaxing, treat yourself to a massage. If that's not possible, ask your partner to slowly rub your back, shoulders and head, relieving the tension.

21. Budget for your baby

Think about how you'll handle the cost of having a baby. Consider making some budget adjustments now. This will help you to save for expensive items such as a cot and a pushchair.

22. Follow your baby's development

Sign up for BabyCentre's free newsletters to find out how your baby is developing, week by week.

23. Join your Birth Club

No one understands what you're going through as well as other mums-to-be at the same stage of pregnancy. Chat with other mums-to-be due in the same month as you in your BabyCentre Birth Club.

I losted my first baby back in Aug thanks to my job. I miscarried on the job and they didn't even care! Two weeks later I was fired but I feel it was a blessing in disguise because I'm pregnant again probably about two or four weeks I go to the Doctor tomarrow so I'll know for sure by then. I'm so happy and excited!

Just got it confirmed that I am 5 weeks and 4 days pregnant...a year after i lost my baby in the 6th month....my gynaecologist said to come after 15 days so he can check for the baby's heartbeat....fingers crossed...

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